We made lots of cookies these last few weeks. Too many, really, but whatever. The Littles– always Chad and Katya, and sometimes Kristina– had a lot of fun decorating them. In addition to the cutout cookies I also made Snickerdoodles and lemon curd bars with a coconut flour crust.
We went out driving a few times to look at lights. I made kettle corn to eat as we drove.
The kidlets went in their pjs, so they were easy to pop into bed later.
Christmas Day was quiet and uneventful. There weren’t any huge presents (except for Daddy, who got a long awaited guitar) but Chad, Katya, and Kristina all got Legos, I got a replacement board book for one that I had loved and worn out as a child, and Todd got a vintage vinyl set of “Pirates of Penzance” by the Glyndborne opera company.
After Christmas we went to an unofficial Lego Museum in a small mining town. The museum was in a neat art-deco school.
Chad makes a very cute sarcophagus.
The town was quaint in it’s shabbiness. There was a fantastic abandoned bridge over the river.
And on our way home we stopped at a Gardens to see the lights.
Not pictured are the trips the the science-center, the old bookstore, and an idyllic park on an achingly cold and beautiful afternoon.
The winter solstice turns, and the foggy world spins towards summer.
Our solution for unused, dried out, or moldy bread is to take Mary Poppin’s advice and “feed the birds”. We stick it in a bag in the freezer (or in the grill if it’s winter) and when we have a collection we go down to the boat landing and feed the ducks. And geese. And gulls.
The seagulls are a new and bossy addition to the river life. They give even the most battle-hardened geese a run for their money. But Chad loves feeding them, and it does create a pleasant diversion for an hour.
Katya was game to go feed the “ack ack” ‘s as she calls them– meaning ducks, of course– but when we got there, and saw the gulls wheeling and the mobs of geese lounging like snow banks, she panicked and was quite relieved when we allowed her to sit in the car and watch. Don’t worry, we were within touching distance of the van, and as you can see, a window was rolled down, and we checked on her frequently.
Pictures complements of Kristina
Chad had a blast, and Kristina had a blast trying out a “new” camera (Thanks, Auntie Aileen!)
Chad was quite generous, throwing whole slices of bread.
Picture complements of KristinaAlso complements of Kristina
We’ve all been enjoying “A Day in the Soviet Union” by Smolan and Cohen, recently obtained from the thrift-store.
The book is full of little notes about the pictures– for example, next to a picture of two Georgian youths, each carrying two large bouquets of lilac, it says that “Georgian men are the Don Juans of the Soviet Union– romantic and passionate, or downright lewd, depending on which version of the stereotype you hear” and that officials in Moscow were “genuinely worried” when they heard that a female photographer was assigned there; but that the photographer–who had been on numerous assignments to Latin America– “handled this one with her customary aplomb.”
All the pictures were taken on May 15th, 1987, by professionals and amateurs alike. Here are a few of my favourites:
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note: I looked up the publisher (“Collins Publishers Inc.”) and it seems to no longer exist. As such, I am unsure how to obtain written permission as requested on the flyleaf.
If you’ve been wondering about my very long absence, I’ve been spending the last five weeks feverishly learning a stack of music. You see, every year (for the past eight or so) OCU has put on a Christmas concert. This was my third year to be in attendance.
My violin teacher, who is on the faculty at OhioChristianUniversity and has a strong say in who gets in the orchestra, decided that it would be expedient to kill two birds with one stone, because he could then have twice the feathers in his hat for half the work. In other words, if he cleverly inserts his own students into the string section, not only do *we* get the benefits of the orchestral experience, but not being professionals he doesn’t have to pay us. And when we do well (as we will, because we are his students, and the management trusts his judgement) he looks very good indeed.
Further more, if we should attend OCU, we will already be a valuable addition to it’s fledgling music programme, and add credit to the school.
In addition to myself, I think there were at least three other of his students in the orchestra. We were all second stand, second chair, except for one who had played last year and had been promoted to first chair.
Before the concert.
The concert went really, really well. Except that I was situated right next to the drum set, and actually whacked a cymbal with the tip of my bow right during an a capella choir number. But I stopped it with my hand, and no-one fainted.
I had a lovely, lovely stand partner–a sweet lady who introduced me to her husband of forty-plus years, the “love of her life.” Thanks, E., for a wonderful first experience.
After the concert with my teacher, who is gloating over my success.
I was very, very happy. I’ve been attending the “Messiah” pretty much every year since I was three or so. Small enough, anyways, that I had to be coaxed through it with dolls and snacks. Playing in it has been something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. As you can see, I was very happy. Usually I smile like this the whole time, but I was dampened somewhat by concentration. Don’t worry though, I was “living the dream” and starry-eyed with happiness.
I actually could hardly sleep that night, because the music was still running so strong through my head. I had to get up early the next morning (Sunday) and go do it again at a church, so by Sunday afternoon I was a bit of a mess, and didn’t want to even listen to music, let alone touch my violin. I’ve recovered, apart from an aversion to hearing any part of the “Messiah” that I performed.
I’m a little burnt out now, but come next year, I’ll be ready to do it all over again.
The weather this morning was conducive to baking. Horrid and cold, with snow. Mother called a rally, and announced that we would be baking two kinds of cookies, buns, and a pan of bars. Mum tackled the bars, Kristina the chocolate-chip cookies (with minimal assistance) and I took on the buns and the Molasses Crinkles.
Molasses Crinkles are my family’s top-favorite cookie. Nicely sweet, even with the sugar coating, and a wee-bit chewy, they’re the sort of cookie you can eat a lot of without feeling sick. The trick, you know, is to take them out when the edges are set, but the inside is soft. I have never tried freezing the cookies, but the dough freezes beautifully.
One of the many good recipes from The Mennonite Community Cookbook. This is the doubled version. My comments are in parenthesis.
Molasses Crinkles
1 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups brown sugar (may reduce by 1/4 cup)
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp salt
4 tsp soda
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
4 1/2 cups flour
Cream shortening and sugar together. Add egg and molasses and beat until well blended. Sift flour. Measure and add salt, soda, and spices, Sift again. Add sifted dry ingredients to creamed mixture and mix thoroughly. Chill dough in refrigerator. (Or freezer, or do what I did today, and stick the bowl out in the snow)
Shape the chilled dough in balls 1 inch in diameter. Roll balls in granulated sugar
and place 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. (If the dough gets sticky, stick it back in the freezer or in the snow.)
Bake at 350 F for 12 to 14 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.
Chad has been feeling a trifle neglected as of late–“nobody listens to me”, he says sadly–what’s more sad is that this is somewhat true; he’s a chatterbox lately, and in our busy schedule he sometimes gets pushed aside. So this morning right after breakfast, as a way of making amends, I took him on a tramp.
It was cold enough to see our breath, even though the sun was well up, but Chad’s hands remained quite toasty. Which was conducive to hand-holding.
There were awesome pools of frozen slime (above and below.) (“Let me step in it!” says Chad, hopefully.)
And fluffy bird bums. (“Quick! Take a picture!” hisses Chad, before smothering a sneeze.)
It was really nice to get out with him. He’s just a great kid.
I was rushing around like mad 20 minutes before the guests were scheduled to arrive, taking pictures. We weren’t even done with the last-minute cleaning. You can see the bead-stuff on the chandelier. All those butterflies? Our Aunt J. kindly punched them out (by hand!) and mailed them to us.
See the cake?!? Ice-Water with coconut-lemon frosting, sprinkled with grated organic coconut. Draped with butterflies.
I strung the butterflies on monofilament. I think that’s what it’s called. Clear plastic thread. Whatever. I used a crimp-bead to fasten it to the shish kabob skewers. We think it a nice change to the penant banners that usually festoon cakes.
Mum purchased little flower-pot-pinwheels, and I typed up name cards. The girls took them home as favours.
The green sprinkles are left-over from my birthday party last year. See the candle-holders? They’re filled with glass pebbles and “AquaGems”, which are “water absorbent polymer.” They’re supposed to be good for putting cut flowers in, or using as a soil substitute, but every time we’ve put cut flowers in them, the flowers wilted *way* fast. So no good on that count. But they are fun for the kids in our family with sensorary needs. And turns out “AquaGems” work for candles. So it wasn’t wasted money.
Katya helped fill the jars with beads and “gems”. And choose the ribbons. Every single ribbon she chose was polka-dots. I love these insights into her character.
The completed table. It looked really, really fine.
And the cake tasted really fine, too. Everyone liked it. Maybe next time I’ll fill it with jam, or something. Mum thought I had better stick to what flavours I had, this time. Because the cake already had almond and vanilla, and the frosting was coconut-lemon. Is anyone interested in the recipe?
I think the party was a success. The girls certainly had fun, shaking the house with a stampeding game of hide ‘n’ seek, and a rollicking game of “Imagine If”. Happy 13th Birthday, Kristina!
Part Three of the “Day Out” series covers our time at Barnes and Nobel’s and the Mall. I usually don’t drag things out this long –for parts 1 and 2, click here and here, respectively– but with a hundred-sixty pictures to sort through, it was kind’ve necessary. This is the last installment, I promise!
As usual, please click the galleries for insights. (I have to repeat this message every time, because some not-techy people read this. For example, my Great Grandmother– who just turned 93, thank-you very much– is on both Facebook and Skype, and reads my blog) (Hi Grandma!)
Now, you may think that taking an 8-year old to a bookstore with an excellent children’s section not to be that much of an ordeal, but when the particular 8-year old in question is Katya, you really have to admire my Dad’s fortitude for even attempting it. No one likes to be the parent of a bully. Or the kid who screams and makes the patrons of the coffee bar choke on their java. Which is why we were so *floored* when… (look down. You see it? Nothing unusual, you say? Normal book-store behaviour, you say?! You sir, or madame, obviously don’t know Katya.)
Katya likes the Duplo table. It used to be that was the *only* thing she liked (well, tollerate for 15 minutes) but *now*… (please click right)
She likes books!! She spent the better part of three hours investigating every touch-and-feel book on the shelves! Yes! >Victory Dance<
After we had recovered our breath somewhat from that shock, we killed some more time at the mall. “Claire’s” was Katya’s store of choice.
Note: She took this picture to school yesterday, to show her friends. She seems to think she looks funny, for some reason.
Katya likes pretty things that can be touched. Residual from her “fiddling” stage, I guess.
She thought the funky glasses were cool. Her favourites seemed to be the bunny (above) and the kitty. She would run and quick peek in the mirror, and grin just a bit, before throwing the glasses back on the stand.
Kristina is bold. That’s all I can say. Shorten the chain a little, and she’ll be all set.
These are more flattering. Orange is *so* her colour.
Katya trying to “smile”. Doesn’t quite have it down, yet. Those glasses looked great with her outfit, though.
After we had worked our way through the store (and the funny pairs of glasses) we went and had a pretzel.
They made them up fresh for us. Waiting was hard for some…
And easier for others. Katya is usally pretty patient so long as she knows the food is comming.
But one the food is there, it’s harder. She kept peeking in the pretzel bag while waiting for Daddy to bring the lemonaid.
Really, what can be said? They were great.
And that is the end of it! Fini! Oh, we went home, of course. We’re not perpetually hanging in the food-court, eating pretzels. Mother was thrilled with the present we brought back (candle holder) but mostly being left to herself, I think. Katya was very enthused when we suggested going back to the gardens on another day, and was happy to take pictures to show around at school. Note: To get full justice from the phrase “Katya was enthused”, you’d have to see a video of it.
The sum of everything, then, is that it was a lovely day all the way around. And I am rather tired of typing because it’s late, and we’re having spaghetti for supper. And I haven’t had any yet.
It’s a lovely thing to be invited to a party. Let alone a sledding party hosted by the D. Family; They know how to throw a proper party. And did I mention that they have a huge hill? So naturally we accepted. We had to trek two sleds, a change of clothes, and ourselves up our hill to where our van was parked, and then much shouting and giving of orders took place, as we tried to get everything loaded. And then it had snowed so much that some of us had to climb out again and kick snow away from the tires. But we got left, and we had a lovely, lovely time. Except Katya, who pretty much hated everything but the food. But even she had her pleasant moments; for example, she learned to throw snowballs, albeit weakly. Really, we had a lot of fun, and it was lovely to get out of the house and be with friends. So enjoy, and click on the pictures to make them larger.
Cherry Tea 